Susumu Hatada, Kanagawa JP

Susumu Hatada, Kanagawa JP

Patent application number

Description

Published

20090117424

SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND REFORMER - There are provided an indirect internal reforming-type SOFC in which a reformer is heated by radiation heat from a SOFC, wherein the heat receiving area of a reformer can be easily made large and stable operation is possible without decreasing the efficiency, and a reformer suitable to the SOFC. The indirect internal reforming-type solid oxide fuel cell comprising a reformer capable of reforming kerosene and a solid oxide fuel cell which uses as a fuel a reformed gas obtained by the reformer is characterized in that the indirect internal reforming-type solid oxide fuel cell comprises a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; the reformer comprises a plurality of reaction tubes packed with a reforming catalyst capable of steam-reforming kerosene; and the reaction tubes are arranged in two rows with the tubes spaced from each other and form a staggered arrangement in a location interposed between the stacks. The reformer capable of reforming kerosene is characterized in that the reformer has a plurality of reaction tubes packed with a reforming catalyst; and the reaction tubes are arranged in two rows with the tubes spaced from each other and form a staggered arrangement.

05-07-2009

20100173208

FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING UP THE SAME - In a method for starting up a fuel cell system, reforming is reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode. A method for starting up a fuel cell system including a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer, for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel to produce a hydrogen-containing gas, and a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power using the gas, wherein a) a temperature condition of the catalyst layer under which the fuel at a flow rate lower than a fuel flow rate at the completion of start-up can be reformed, and a temperature condition of the catalyst layer under which the fuel at the flow rate at the completion of start-up can be reformed are previously found, b) the temperature of the catalyst layer is increased, while the temperature of the catalyst layer is measured, c) the measured temperature of the catalyst layer is compared with at least one of the temperature conditions to determine the flow rate of the fuel that can be reformed at a point of time when the measurement is performed, d) the fuel at the determined flow rate is supplied to the catalyst layer and reformed and the reformed as is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell, when the determined flow rate exceeds the present value of the fuel flow rate, and the steps c and d are repeated until the feed rate of the fuel to the catalyst layer becomes the flow rate at the completion of start-up. Also provided is a fuel cell system appropriate for this method.

07-08-2010

20100227235

REFORMER AND INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL - To provide a reformer that uses a relatively inexpensive granular catalyst and can provide a more uniform temperature distribution in a catalyst bed while suppressing increase in the size of the reformer and the required power and size of an auxiliary machine, and a more compact indirect internal reforming high temperature fuel cell while suppressing increase in cost. A reformer that produces a hydrogen-containing gas from a hydrocarbon-based fuel by a steam reforming reaction has a reactor vessel and a reforming catalyst bed packed with a granular catalyst having steam reforming activity in the reactor vessel, the reformer has a partition plate that divides the reforming catalyst bed into at least two sections, the partition plate has a thermal conductivity higher than effective thermal conductivity of the catalyst bed, and the partition plate extends in the reactor vessel from a part which is at a higher temperature in a rated operation to a part which is at a lower temperature in rated operation. An indirect internal reforming high temperature fuel cell has the reformer and a high temperature fuel cell that generates electric power using a hydrogen-containing gas, and the reformer is disposed at a position where the reformer receives thermal radiation from the high temperature fuel cell.

09-09-2010

20100279185

FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING UP THE SAME - Provided is a method for starting up a fuel cell system, in which reforming can be reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode. A method for starting up a fuel cell system including a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel, and a high temperature fuel cell, wherein a) M flow rates F

11-04-2010

20100310951

FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING UP THE SAME - Provided is a method for starting up a fuel cell system, in which reforming can be reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode. A method for starting up a fuel cell system including a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer, for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel to produce a hydrogen-containing gas, and a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas, including: a) increasing the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, while measuring the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer; b) calculating the flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel that can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer, based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer; and c) supplying the hydrocarbon-based fuel at the calculated flow rate to the reforming catalyst layer to reform the hydrocarbon-based fuel, and supplying the obtained reformed gas to the anode of the high temperature fuel cell, wherein the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer is increased, while the steps b and c are repeated, until the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer becomes a flow rate at completion of start-up. Also provided is a fuel cell system appropriate for this method.

INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE SAME - Provided is a method for stopping an indirect internally reforming SOFC with which a hydrocarbon fuel is reformed reliably and it is possible to prevent oxidative degradation of the anode by the reformed gas. This is a method of stopping an indirect internally reforming SOFC which has a reformer, an SOFC, a combustion zone in which the anode off-gas from the SOFC is burned and a frame which houses the reformer, the SOFC and the combustion zone, and if the flow rate of the fuel which is being supplied to the reformer in the state where fuel is being reformed in the reformer with the anode temperature normal and below the oxidative degradation point and reformed gas of a composition which is suitable for being supplied to the anode is being produced and the amount being produced is above the minimum flow rate required to prevent anode oxidative degradation in the case where the anode temperature is above the oxidative degradation point is FE, and the flow rate of the fuel being supplied to the reformer when the stopping method is started is FS, the method has a step in which the flow rate of the fuel which is being supplied to the reformer is changed from FS to FE and a step in which the supply of fuel to the reformer is stopped after the anode temperature has dropped below the oxidative degradation point. An indirect internally reforming SOFC which is ideal for this method.

METHOD FOR LOAD FOLLOWING OPERATION OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Two or more methods selected among a steam reforming method, a partial oxidation reforming method, and an autothermal reforming method are defined as i-th reforming method. Functions Fi=fi(P), P=fi-1(Fi), and ηi=gi(P) are obtained in advance. If there is a number i which satisfies FiR≧Fimin, the following process (1) is performed when PD≦P is satisfied, and the following process (2) is performed when PD>PiM is satisfied. In the process (1), if fi(PD)≦FiR is satisfied, Pi*=PD and Fi*=fi(PD), and if fi(PD)>FiR is satisfied, Pi*=(the maximum fi-1(MR) which is less than PD) and Fi*=FiR. In the process (2), if fi(PiM)≦FiP, is satisfied, Pi*=PiM and Fi*=fi(PiM), and if fi(PiM)>FiR is satisfied Pi*=(the maximum fi-1(FiR)) and Fi*=FiR. If there are a plurality of numbers i which satisfy FiR≧Fimin. P1*, a reforming method, and F1*, which relate to the number i which provides the maximal ηi=gi(Pi*), are adopted.

07-05-2012

20130011759

METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which reliable reforming, prevention of anode oxidative degradation, fuel saving and time saving are possible. Reforming catalyst layer temperature T is measured, and FkCALC is calculated; when FkCALC≧FkE, T is measured, and FkCALC and FkMinCALC are calculated; if FkMinCALC≧FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkE and the method moves on to step D; if FkCALC≦FkMinCALC

01-10-2013

20140106250

FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING UP THE SAME - A fuel cell system may include a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer; a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power; a reforming catalyst layer temperature measuring means; a reforming catalyst layer temperature increasing means; and a control means for calculating a flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel that can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer, based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, and for controlling the hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied to the reforming catalyst layer to flow at the calculated flow rate, and being able to increase a feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer, while repeatedly operating the fuel flow rate calculating function and the fuel flow rate controlling function, until the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer becomes a flow rate at completion of start-up.

04-17-2014

20140255809

INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE SAME - Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas. A method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC including a reformer; an SOFC; a combustion region for combusting the anode off-gas of the SOFC; and an enclosure for housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustion region, wherein the method includes causing the flow rate of a fuel supplied to the reformer to become FE from FS; and stopping the supply of the fuel to the reformer when an anode temperature becomes lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, where FE represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer in a state in which the anode temperature is steady and lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, in which in the reformer the fuel is reformed and a reformed gas with a composition suitable to be supplied to an anode is produced, and in which an amount of the reformed gas produced is equal to or more than the requisite minimum flow rate for preventing the oxidative degradation of the anode when the anode temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the oxidative degradation temperature, and FS represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer at the start of the shutdown method. Also provided is an indirect internal reforming SOFC appropriate for this method.